We all know the importance of self-care, but lots of us forget to prioritise looking after ourselves until a gift voucher appears and we eventually get around to redeeming it. We get it… life is busy, which is why it’s super important to find ways to practice self-care when and where we can. But will a DIY spa treatment be complicated or expensive, and do we have to be surrounded by scattered frangipanis? (No, no, and only if you really want to, respectively.) We spoke with an expert from endota for the best tips on how to recreate a spa day in our own cosy casas. Light a candle, pop on some slippers and prepare for some bliss.

START SMALL, SIMPLE, OR BOTH If creating a ‘regime’ sounds like work, don’t stress. Kim Conboy from endota suggests starting with a simple routine of a cleanser, mist and moisturiser as a skincare 101. For busy bees, blocking out hours each week for pampering isn’t practical (or can be overwhelming if you’ve been running on stress fumes for a while!) so start small with 5 or 10 minutes dedicated to these basics. Once this is a habit you can add on extra products or stretch out the time to increase the home spa experience.

BE IN THE HERE AND NOW It might not surprise you to learn that loads of us rush through bathroom routines on autopilot. We scrub our faces and teeth, often totally disconnected while our minds whirr through a list of to-dos. Those to-dos aren’t going anywhere, but what if for (just half an hour) they weren’t what we gave our attention to? Even if we only have five minutes before bed to wash our face we can wind down slowly: pop on a feelgood song, take some deep breaths and draw our attention towards what we’re doing. In this moment our body, not the mind, is the focus.

USE ALL YOUR SENSES If you think about what makes a spa day so rejuvenating, a big part of it isn’t the actual treatment – it’s the mood. We’re away from devices, there’s no distractions and everything smells so dang good. When recreating this at home, use all of your senses. Dim the lights and use candles for mood or pop on an oil diffuser and flick your phone to Do Not Disturb if you can. Cue music that makes you mellow (if death metal chills you out – go for it). This helps create an immersive experience for ultra soothing vibes.

KNOW YOUR (SKIN) TYPE Make sure the products you use on your face and bod are suited for your skin type. Are you oily? Dry? Combination? (Despite the name, few of us fall under the category of ‘normal’.) Choosing products developed for your skin means the ingredients can get to work without any unwanted side effects. endota’s Organics range contains natural ingredients to be gentle on the skin. This range is certified cosmos, which means the entire supply chain is verified to guarantee the quality of what you’re putting on your skin. If you like mild scent, opt for products containing essential oils for a soothing sensory vibe.

NURTURE FROM TOP TO TOE Do you ever hit the first day of summer, dust off your thongs and realise it’s been months since you’ve seen your feet? You’re not alone, and besides, they’re all the way down there. People typically remember to take care of their face and forget about the rest. Kim uses an analogy: think of the skin around our eyes as tissue, the face is paper and our body is cardboard. Our body’s skin might be tougher than our delicate face but it still gets dry and sun damaged so it’s super important to look after it. Add some exfoliating and moisturising steps to your spa day routine and remember to go slow when applying – give your bod a massage while you do it, letting the products soak in. And don’t forget the feet.

SELF CARE IS LIKE MAINTENANCE Think of the body like a car: if it’s not serviced regularly, there will be a breakdown of some kind. Self care isn’t about indulgence or luxury, it’s about maintenance. Lots of us can feel guilt around this but remember that for us to be good friends, partners or parents we need to ensure we have enough energy in our tanks to look after others, too. It can be hard to put time aside to look after ourselves but small, mindful moments can make a huge difference to all aspects of wellbeing.

These swish tips were put together in partnership with endota and its simple, everyday skincare range endota Organics. Take a peek at the results-driven Australian-made range on the endota website.